The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-27
THE STRANDED STEAMER.
Wrecking Tugs Appear and Begin the Work
of Transferring the Passengers to Barges.

PATCHoGUE, l.. l.. March 26.-The stranded
steamer Scotia pounded heavily during the
night. worked over the outer bar, and is now
lying between the outer and inner bars. Owing
to the heavy surf which is running the tugs and
barges have been unable to approach
enough to the vessel to permit the transfer of
passengers, and they will probably all be brought
ashore and forwarded to New York by rail-
The hundred men, women and children who
were brought to the beach yesterday were fur
nished with shelter and food, and made as COM
Portable as possible under the circumstances
The present condition of the vessel will
prevent her from being readily hauled off.
The wrecking tugs will endeavor to anchor her
to prevent her from working further in shore.
The weather is fine, but the is rough. The
passengers of the stranded steamer are being
taken off as quickly as possible. both by boat and
the breeches buoy, and will remain on the beach
until the barges towed around through the
inlet to the beach, where all will be taken on
board and the barges towed to New York. The
statement made by a passenger named Rider.
practical engineer, is that Captain Ruffat did
not know where he was on Thursday night. He
mistook the Shinnecock light for the Fire Island
light, and the steamer was running at full speed
when she went aground. The masts, which
were of iron, were not cut down, but snapped
off when the vessel struck. Two passengers left
here for New York at loo P. NJ. The agent of
the steamship line has ordered a large quantity
of provisions for the passen gers on the beach.
All the Scotias passengers were safely on
shore by 2 o'clock P. NJ, and the revenue cutter
U. S. Grant. with $50 of them or board, started
for New York shortly afterwards The others
are being conveyed in sail boats to the barge
Haggerty, which lies off Rangers inlet. The
wind and sea have gone down, and the steamer
is high and dry.
The statement of CAPTAIN Ruffat, made to Mr..
Elwell the agent of the line, and reported by
the latter to an Associated Press reporter is in
substance follows: THE vessel encountered a
series of storms strong head winds prevailed in
nearly the whole voyage, but she weathered them
splendidly, and sustained no more serious damage
than such as is usually incidental to rough
weather. This was the cause of her being so long
overdue. At about 9 o'clock Thursday night
| Captain Ruffat saw light which he thought to
| be the Fire Island light, and headed the vessel
| accordingly. Shortly after tremendous squall
| came up and the wind blew at the rate of
| seventy miles an hour. The vessel was steam
| ing about fifteen knots an hour, and no one was
| more surprised than the captain when she
struck. He attributes the disaster to the mis-
| drove the vessel out Of her course
and a strong easterly current, which aided in
| doing So The vessels masts were lost by their
swapping in two from the shock Of her striking.
| Mr.. Elwell said that he had examined the yes
| sci and found it perfectly sound I'D, with the
| exception of the masts as good as the day she
| left Naples. The vessel is we'll situated for be
| ing hauled off when the tide and wind favor
| She is firmly anchored, so that she cannot worf
| further on shore. An attempt will probably be
made tomorrow to move her.